Etihad Aviation Group concludes successful year of giving initiatives

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) has concluded a year-long programme of activities and humanitarian initiatives to mark the UAE’s Year of Giving.

Airways’ A380 route
network, including Sydney, Paris, London Heathrow and New York

One dirham per ticket donation as a
part of broad Etihad Airways-Emirates Red Crescent corporate social
responsibility partnership

Monthly local community engagements
and global initiatives executed hand in hand with UAE Embassies and Emirates
Red Crescent

One dirham from every
ticket booked was donated to charity – and other noble initiatives that touched
the lives of those in need around the world.

2017 was officially
declared as the Year of Giving by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin
Zayed Al Nahyan. In support of this national initiative, EAG launched a
strategy based on the government’s three Year of Giving pillars: Corporate
Social Responsibility, Volunteering and Serving the Nation.

EAG Interim Chief
Executive Officer Ray Gammell said: “We are proud that the EAG family worldwide
so generously supported the many initiatives throughout the year. Volunteering
and giving back to our community, as well as to the communities in which we
operate, is an important part of the Etihad culture.”

A number of activities
supported Syrian refugees, including a welfare trip to Lebanon where more than
3,550 Syrian refugees received winter clothes, shoes, mattresses, dry food
parcels and blankets; and a trip to the UAE-Jordan Mrajeeb Al Fhood refugee
camp in Jordan where EAG staff and senior management distributed school bags,
stationery sets, blankets and garments to more than 2,500 children.

In Greece, vital
school and home supplies were donated to more than 1,000 Syrians at the Ritsona
refugee camp near Athens. The event coincided with the United Nations Universal
Children’s Day and supported the global education initiative to help underprivileged
students pursue their studies.

The Year of Giving
drive was also visible on its flagship aircraft, the Airbus A380, with all four
engines of the superjumbo displaying the official Year of Giving logo to
promote the national initiative overseas in Etihad’s A380 destinations of
Sydney, Paris, London Heathrow and New York.

The EAG family also
executed many community engagements within the Emirates. A special day in
cooperation with Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care and Special
Needs was planned to help determined ones in planting trees and vegetables at
one of the farms. The one-day activity involved planting, harvesting, packing
vegetables and feeding the animals.

‘Sharing Your Blessing
During Ramadan’ was also kicked off by executing many initiatives, including
hosting the Al Ghadeer UAE Crafts fundraising day to support autism in EAG
headquarters.

The donation drive
continued with the donation of nearly 40 pallets of catering supplies to
Emirates Red Crescent to support charity projects during the Holy Month.

Dates packages were
distributed to more than 1,800 ramp loaders at Abu Dhabi International Airport,
as well as in Hong Kong, India, Sri Lanka and Lebanon.

More than 3,000 Iftar
meal boxes and water were distributed to labourers residing at Tafseer Camp in
Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, by more than 120 EAG volunteers. A campaign ‘For Your
Sake, Somalia’ targeting famine in the African nation was also planned by
Etihad Guest members .

Members of Etihad
Airways’ award-winning loyalty programme Etihad Guest donated 750 Etihad Guest
Miles to the emergency response in the African country, with providing one
meal.

Etihad Aviation Group
also planned a fun day event during Eid al Fitr, visiting the elderly in
Shahama and Baniyas.

Students from the
Future Rehabilitation Centre, a local special needs school, were whisked away
from school for a surprise hands-on science lesson in Etihad Airways’
state-of-the-art flight simulator, where they learnt about flight regulations,
aircraft technology and how to be an effective co-pilot.

Khaled Al Mehairbi,
Senior Vice President Abu Dhabi Airport, and General Manager of Etihad Airport
Services Ground, who also serves as Chairman of Etihad Airways’ Sports and
Social Committee, and CSR strategy said: “This year’s initiatives are
representative of the kindness and generosity of our staff, as well as the
wider community in Abu Dhabi.

“Together, we have
been able to make a positive impact in the lives of adults and children, and
reaffirm our commitment to society and to give back to those in need.”

This latest
initiatives builds on the Group’s track record as a socially responsible
organisation. In 2017, 1000 EAG employees volunteered with more than 7437 hours
of time in support of charities and community causes.